VANVELZEN

Genre

Online

VanVelzen

VanVelzen is the virtuoso Roel van Velzen from the province of South Holland, measuring only 5 feet, who sings his own melodic pop songs in English and accompanies himself on the piano. In 2006 he makes his national breakthrough when he performs live in the popular TV talk show ...Full biography

Concerts & Festivals

Biography VanVelzen

VanVelzen is the virtuoso Roel van Velzen from the province of South Holland, measuring only 5 feet, who sings his own melodic pop songs in English and accompanies himself on the piano. In 2006 he makes his national breakthrough when he performs live in the popular TV talk show De Wereld Draait Door. His debut album Unwind (2007) contains contributions by Bas Kennis (Bløf), John Ewbank, Cor Bakker and Anouk's band.

1999

Roel van Velzen (Delft, 20 March 1978) grows up in a musical family. Both his grandfathers were members of a Delft accordion band and at the age of four Van Velzen makes home radio programs with his father for their own enjoyment. He is self-taught on piano, guitar and drums. In high school the small musician plays in various bands and composes music for the annual school musical. In college, in Rotterdam, his band The Goldfish wins the 1999 Heineken Student Music Award at the Amsterdam Paradiso. It helps them to record the single Te Laat for the S.M.A.R.T. label.

2002 - 2005

In 2002 Roel van Velzen is a member of the improvising cabaret group Op Sterk Water with which he performs in theaters and at festivals, including two shows at the Lowlands festival. After his graduation the pianist joins the Scheveningen band Crazy Pianos. They accompany artists all over the Netherlands. During a show at the Arnhem Gelredome stadium Van Velzen meets the man who would later become his manager, Ruud H.Vinke. Taking on the stage name VanVelzen the pianist/singer starts a solo career, from early 2005 onwards, backed by the Dutch producers Holger Schwedt (Anouk, Bløf), Nando Eweg (Di-rect, Birgit) and John Ewbank (Marco Borsato).

2006

On 29 August VanVelzen has his first gig with a band at the Amsterdam Cineac, for a select audience of some 200 people. He is accompanied by guitarist Xander Hubrecht (Loïs Lane, Birgit), bassist Carlos Lake (Anouk, Birgit) and drummer Rudi Sibma (Lake's colleague in the band Rebel). Late September his debut single Baby Get Higher is released. The record is made a 3FM Megahit and enters the Top 40 at number 33. In 2006 Baby Get Higher is the most played Dutch song on the 3FM radio station. This earns the single a Schaal van Rigter award in April 2007. He gives his first radio interview on 26 September in DJ Gerard Ekdom's show on 3FM. In October VanVelzen becomes known nationally through an appearance in the popular TV talk show De Wereld Draait Door. In the show VanVelzen sings a fragment from his single, but also plays requests from the audience with the greatest of ease. The performance is so successful that VanVelzen is asked to return in De Wereld Draait Door every last show of the month to give a musical commentary on the themes of the program. On 13 October he is one of the performing artists at the Amsterdam Heineken Music Hall during the award show for the 2006 TMF Awards. A month later he is featured at the International Children's Peace Prize Concert at the Amsterdam Dam square. The band's first full public performance is on 25 November in Breezand.

2007

The second single, Burn, a precursor to the debut album Unwind, is officially released in mid January. The record is radio station 538's Alarmschijf, and is presented with a performance in the shop window of the Amsterdam department store De Bijenkorf. On 12 January VanVelzen performs at the Eurosonic festival in the Groningen A-kerk. The album Unwind contains original compositions, plus contributions by Bas Kennis (Bløf), John Ewbank and the foreign composers Andreas Johnson, Metropolis, Franzel and Lacy & Kates. The CD also features guest appearances by Cor Bakker, Anouk's band and the Jay-horns. On 15 April VanVelzen is not only awarded a Schaal van Rigter for his single Baby Get Higher, but also a 3FM Award in the category Best New Act. On 30 June VanVelzen appears at the second edition of the festival Concert At SEA at the Zeeland Brouwersdam. Between 12 October and 1 December the Unwind Club Tour takes VanVelzen to the twelve major Dutch pop venues. The young band Leaf is the support act. In October VanVelzen wins a TMF Award in the category Best Album.

2008

Together with John Ewbank VanVelzen writes the title song for the feature film Zomerhitte (March), actress Monique van de Ven's directing debut, based on Jan Wolkers' novella of the same title. When Summer Ends is released as a single in February. In late April the 3FM Awards are presented at the Amsterdam club The Factory. VanVelzen is the winner of the category Best Live Act. On 28 August VanVelzen's debut single Baby Get Higher is also released in Germany. In support of the release a five day promotion tour of 19 German radio stations is planned around this date.

2009

Bassist Carlos Lake and drummer Rudi Sibma leave VanVelzen and in January they are replaced by Krezip's former rhythm section: Joost van Haaren and Bram van den Berg. After a number of performances in the series Vrienden Van Amstel Live VanVelzen leaves for Germany in early February to perform as support act to the popular German band Reamonn in four sold-out concerts. VanVelzen's second album is released in two separate parts. The first part, Take Me In, is released in May in a luxury digipack. The second part, Hear Me Out, is released in early September featuring a bonus DVD with a registration of a concert at the Paradiso during the Unwind Club Tour. Take Me In contains up-tempo songs, including the single On My Way. Hear Me Out has quieter tunes, including the single When Summer Ends from 2008, but also a dance version of Broken Tonight, made in collaboration with Armin Van Buuren. The single Other Side Of Me is sung by VanVelzen with an accompaniment of piano and cello only. The Take Me In Tour starts on 16 October at the Paradiso and ends on 19 December at the Enschede Atak.

2010

From 17 September the talent show The Voice Of Holland airs every Friday on the channel RTL4. VanVelzen is a member of the team of coaches. A special feature of the show is the fact the coaches/jury members have their backs turned to the candidates during the auditions, thus judging their voice talent and not their looks.

Too Good To Lose

Cross Your Heart

The Rush Of Life

Act

VanVelzen

Type and year

CDS, 2012

Label

T2 Entertainment

Bertolf & VanVelzen
-
Talking

Act

VanVelzen

Type and year

Single, 2017

Label

Solid

In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.